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Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great! Steven C. Shell, Architect AB1416 This class will show you how to get the most out of the powerful graphic features of Autodesk Revit software and incorporate all of the exiting new features in Revit 2013. You will learn valuable tips and tricks and time-proven visualization techniques to make your drawings look great. You will learn how to enhance non-rendered and rendered views with out- of-the-box advanced graphic techniques, how to improve the trees and plants used in Revit for non-rendered views, how to add photo backgrounds to renderings using a unique overlay approach, how to add a fully controllable gradient color background behind multiple views, as well as tips for improving interior and exterior rendered views. And finally, you will learn how to use old-world hand drafting techniques to add visual clarity and make your construction documents communicate and look better. Techniques include poche and surface shading patterns, profiling, transparency, and toning to create graphical layering and sheet layout. Learning Objectives At the end of this class, you will be able to: Explore and take full advantage of powerful basic and advanced graphic tools and capabilities in Revit Use a variety of presentation techniques to help develop your own artistic style Learn unique out-of-the-box tips and tricks to prepare presentations more quickly and better than ever\ Use time-proven techniques to make your construction documents communicate better and look as beautiful as they are smart About the Speaker Steven C. Shell graduated from the University of Arizona in 1982, and has had his own architectural firm in Tucson, Arizona, for over 23 years. Mr. Shell has been using Autodesk Revit Architecture® exclusively for over eight years. He is the co-founder and co-chair of the Southern Arizona Revit users group (SARUG). Mr. Shell is certified by Autodesk in Revit, and chairs monthly SARUG meetings. He has taught Revit at the University of Arizona College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture where he also hosted Revit workshops for the students and faculty. He has presented at Pima College and presented at the Revit Technology Conferences (RTC USA) where his class was voted one of the top 10 classes. In addition to his Architecture practice and teaching Revit, he was re-appointed to the City of Tucson’s Board of Adjustment, where he previously served as chairperson for 8 years, as well as serving 10 years on the City’s Design Review Board and Sign Code Advisory & Appeals Board. www.scshell.com

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

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Page 1: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit®

Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect

AB1416 This class will show you how to get the most out of the powerful graphic features of Autodesk Revit software and incorporate all of the exiting new features in Revit 2013. You will learn valuable tips and tricks and time-proven visualization techniques to make your drawings look great. You will learn how to enhance non-rendered and rendered views with out-of-the-box advanced graphic techniques, how to improve the trees and plants used in Revit for non-rendered views, how to add photo backgrounds to renderings using a unique overlay approach, how to add a fully controllable gradient color background behind multiple views, as well as tips for improving interior and exterior rendered views. And finally, you will learn how to use old-world hand drafting techniques to add visual clarity and make your construction documents communicate and look better. Techniques include poche and surface shading patterns, profiling, transparency, and toning to create graphical layering and sheet layout.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this class, you will be able to:

Explore and take full advantage of powerful basic and advanced graphic tools and capabilities in Revit

Use a variety of presentation techniques to help develop your own artistic style

Learn unique out-of-the-box tips and tricks to prepare presentations more quickly and better than ever\

Use time-proven techniques to make your construction documents communicate better and look as beautiful as they are smart

About the Speaker

Steven C. Shell graduated from the University of Arizona in 1982, and has had his own architectural

firm in Tucson, Arizona, for over 23 years. Mr. Shell has been using Autodesk Revit Architecture®

exclusively for over eight years. He is the co-founder and co-chair of the Southern Arizona Revit users

group (SARUG). Mr. Shell is certified by Autodesk in Revit, and chairs monthly SARUG meetings. He

has taught Revit at the University of Arizona College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture

where he also hosted Revit workshops for the students and faculty. He has presented at Pima College

and presented at the Revit Technology Conferences (RTC – USA) where his class was voted one of

the top 10 classes. In addition to his Architecture practice and teaching Revit, he was re-appointed to

the City of Tucson’s Board of Adjustment, where he previously served as chairperson for 8 years, as

well as serving 10 years on the City’s Design Review Board and Sign Code Advisory & Appeals

Board.

www.scshell.com

Page 2: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 2 of 38

Section 1

Basic Graphic Communication Techniques

Project Wide Default Settings to Individual Overrides

Object Styles: Project Wide Category Settings

Revit controls graphics based on a hierarchy, which starts from a program wide dialog box

known as 'Object Styles', by category and then focuses all of the way down to individual

line weights in a specific view. The Object Style dialog box below applies to all objects

and elements in all views. This is where you first set all of your project wide visibility graphic

preferences for Model Objects, then Annotation Objects and then Imported Objects, which

you then save to your Template.

Default Global Settings: Manage Tab > Settings > Object Styles

Page 3: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 3 of 38

Object Styles: View Override

Once you have set your global default settings, any individual view can be modified by using

the View Overrides dialog box below, which controls the visibility graphics for an entire

category, but only affects that specific view. These preferences should then be saved to your

Template.

View Specific Overrides: View Tab > Graphics > Visibility/Graphics (or short cut keys V G & V V)

Object Styles: Individual Element Override

The individual element's override dialog box below controls the visibility graphics for a specific element

in a specific view.

Individual Element Overrides: Right-Click > Override Graphics in View > By Element

Select Fill

Pattern

Select Fill

Color

Page 4: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 4 of 38

Materials: Project Wide Default Settings

Revit controls the way materials look in all views, and types of views, from a program wide

dialog box known as Materials, and can be overridden, duplicated or modified for

additional materials as needed. In addition, one can copy all material settings from one

project to another by using the 'Transfer Project Standards' tool. All material settings should

be saved to your Template.

Note:

New in 2013, you can now add Thermal and Physical “Assets” to any material.

Default Global Settings: Manage Tab > Settings > Materials

Page 5: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 5 of 38

Materials: Graphic Overrides for Specific Uses

In addition to defining a material's settings for use in Renderings, you can modify a material

for other non-traditional uses, such as to better communicate materials in your Construction

Documents or early Presentations when using the standard Hidden Line view type.

For this example, when preparing cabinetry and millwork drawings, it is helpful to add a

graphic Surface Pattern and a Cut Pattern to the wood (or laminate) material to better show

the difference between materials. (This technique was originally known as ‘poche’ work

and was added to the back side of a drawing sheet using a pink color pencil and blending

it to highlight certain materials.) All additional or new materials should be saved to your

Template.

Example of graphic overrides for surface patterns to create a visual difference between wood, steel &

GWB

Page 6: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 6 of 38

For this example, when preparing a very preliminary design presentation where you may

not want to show materials yet; however, it can be helpful to add a few select graphic

Surface Patterns (colors) to help indicate some materials and help the image communicate

better than just a plan Hidden Line, or black & white view.

Example of graphic overrides for surface patterns to create a visual difference between Glass and

Stucco.

Page 7: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 7 of 38

Other types of Graphic Overrides for Specific Uses

In addition to defining a material's settings for use in your drawings, you can modify an element

so that it shows depth, or layering of object. This technique is used to layer a drawing in order

to help communicate when an object is behind another object, set further back.

Individual Element Override: Right Click > Override Graphics in View > By Element

Example of individual graphic overrides for surface pattern ("half tone") to create visual depth to help

show that the wood panel wall is behind the Teller Line.

Select Half Tone

Page 8: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 8 of 38

Lines: Project Wide Default Settings

Revit controls the way lines look in all views and types of views, from a program wide dialog

box known as 'Line Styles', and can be added to, overridden, duplicated or modified for

additional lines as needed. In addition, one can copy all line settings from one project to

another by using the 'Transfer Project Standards' tool. All line settings should be saved to

your Template.

Default Global Settings: Manage Tab > Settings > Additional Settings > Line Styles

Lines: Modifying or Adding New Line Styles

From the program 'Line Styles' dialog box shown above, you can add or modify any line in

order to create additional lines as needed. All line settings should be saved to your

Template.

Adding new lines or modifying existing lines in the Default Global Settings: Manage Tab > Settings >

Additional Settings > Line Patterns

Page 9: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 9 of 38

Lines: Modifying Individual Line Work in a Specific View

Using the Graphic Display Options ‘Silhoutte’ feature and the Line Tool overrides to provide

individual Profiling as well as general line work improvements on an individual drawing.

Linework & Silhouette Overrides: Modify Tab > View Panel > Linework

Tool (LW) Then select "Line Style" from pull down menu

Select Line Type

Select Line Type for all Edges

Page 10: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 10 of 38

Sun Settings & Project Location: Project Wide Default Settings

Revit controls the project or site location in all views and types of views, from a program

wide dialog box known as Location Weather & Site, and can be copied from one project to

another by using the Transfer Project Standards tool. All project location and sun settings

should be saved to your Template.

By setting the project's location, the sun angles and settings can be used to accurately

show the sun and shadow patterns for all views throughout the project, based on the

physical orientation of a specific view. (This also requires that the project has been

oriented to True North vs Project North.)

Default Global Settings: Manage Tab > Project Location > Location

(Can also be set through Graphic Display Options > Sun Settings > Single Day > Location)

Page 11: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 11 of 38

Phase Settings & Graphic Overrides:

Revit controls the overall graphics for any view based on the Phase Filter Settings and

Graphic Overrides for Phases which also can be copied from one project to another by

using the ‘Transfer Project Standards’ tool. These settings should be saved to your Template.

Default Global Settings: Manage Tab > Phasing > Phases > Phase Filters

In order to improve visual clarity, it is necessary to create additional view filters as well as

graphic overrides to the Phase Filter Settings. This is done by creating additional line types

and styles to show specific phases better.

In the example above and below, a new phase filter (3) was created called 'Show

Complete + Demo' in order to create a coordination plan, which starts with the existing

construction, then shows both the new and the demolition work simultaneously. This is

helpful in showing how the new and demo work are related to the existing construction,

especially during the design process. However, the out of the box demolition work graphics

are very thin and need to be modified in order to communicate better. In the example

below, the linework and pattern fills for New and Demo have been modified.

Default Global Settings: Manage Tab > Phasing > Phases > Graphic Overrides

Page 12: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 12 of 38

Section 2

Advanced Graphic Tools and Capabilities

Explore & Take Advantage of the Possibilities

Now that you have completely modelled and scheduled everything, the fun begins. It’s

time to create your images and sheets.

Being able to represent a three dimensional model into a two dimensional presentation is

an art form and a true strength of Revit. If a client, reviewing agency or contractor does

not understand the design or the drawings, you have failed. It doesn't matter how detailed

your model is if it is not communicated through your drawings.

Despite the technology, this is an art! Your drawings should look great while still

communicating your design. Controlling how your drawings look and communicate is what

we do as Architects, Engineers and Designers.

Page 13: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 13 of 38

Graphic Display Options: Visual Styles

Revit provides several various types of views to help communicate your design.

Basic Visual Styles (Based on Model Surface Patterns)

Hidden Line

Shaded (Including Consistent Colors)

Realistic

Rendered (Including the new 2013 Ray Trace)

Deciding which Visual Style to use depends on what it is that you are trying to

communicate. For example, if you are just starting out on the Design Process, and you

wish to show only the most basic of design ideas, such as massing, size, proportion and

basic overall design, then the looser Hidden Line style might be your first choice.

Then, as your design becomes more refined, maybe you opt for a Shaded or Realistic View

which can start to suggest and demonstrate materials.

Once the design has been finalized, you may choose to do a Rendered View, which

provides the greatest realistic type feeling presentation.

`

Page 14: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 14 of 38

Graphic Display Options

Hidden Line Views: With or without selective color fill pattern overrides.

Properties > Graphic Display Options > Model Display Style: > Hidden Line

Duplicate Closest Material,

Re-Name & then Select

Color Fill Pattern Overrides.

(Then Save to New Library)

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Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 15 of 38

Graphic Display Options

Realistic Views: With or without Edges

The example below utilizes “Show Edges” with “Silhouettes” activated and additional line

work used to fine tune the image’s profile (silhouette) edges.

Properties > Graphic Display Options > Surfaces: Realistic > Show Edges

Select Edges

Then Select Line Type (Weight) Then Use Line Work Tool

for Individual Silhouette

Line Work

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Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 16 of 38

Ambient Shadows

Within all Non-Rendered Views, you can have Ambient Shadows.

Properties > Graphic Display Options > Surfaces: Hidden Line > Show Ambient Shadows

Select Ambient Shadows

Page 17: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 17 of 38

Realistic Views: New to 2013, Sky & Photo Backgrounds

Note: New to 2013, Realistic Views can now show RPC content.

Properties > Graphic Display Options > Surfaces: Realistic > Background

Select Sky

Select Photo Image

Adjust Image Size, Fit

& Position

Page 18: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 18 of 38

Material Override in all Views: Ghost Surfaces Replaced with Transparency

(New in 2013)

You can now set a material by Element or Category to any desired amount of transparency.

Individual Element or Category Override: Right Click > Override Graphics in View > By Element or

Category > Surface Transparency > Transparency Slide Bar Control

Select Transparency Amount

Page 19: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 19 of 38

Graphic Display Options: Shadow & Lighting (Sun Settings)

Revit provides the ability to adjust the sun settings in order to not only create a very

accurate representation, but to also help make your drawings more visually dynamic and

interesting. You can adjust the settings by date and time in order to provide a still single

setting or you can produce a single or multi-day solar study.

This is another key example of how Revit allows you the opportunity to experiment and play

with your presentation in order to allow you to express yourself and let the design be shown

in the most powerful, artistic and interesting ways. You just have to try and be willing to put

the time in to see what is possible!

Properties > Graphic Display Options > Sun Setting > Select ‘Still’ or ‘Single/Multi-Day” then set the

location and all other settings to provide the shadows you are looking for.

Bold, Dynamic & Good Depth

Flat, Bland & Little Depth

Page 20: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 20 of 38

Graphic Display Options: Backgrounds

Within any 3D Isometric View and Camera View, (and new in 2013, all Section & Elevation Views)

Revit provides the ability to add a back ground gradient Sky, Horizon and Ground color fill behind

your image (and new in 2013, you can add a sky or photo image). The gradient Sky and Horizon

is a blended combination of any 2 colors as selected. This allows for some very creative and

artistic effects which dramatically change any image.

Properties > Graphic Display Options > Background > Select Gradient

Page 21: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 21 of 38

Graphic Display Options: Backgrounds (New in 2013)

New in 2013, you can add backgrounds to all Section & Elevation Views, which was

limited to 3D Isometric & Camera Perspective Views.

Properties > Graphic Display Options > Background > Select (Sky, Gradient, Image)

Page 22: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 22 of 38

Section 3

Presentation Techniques

Non-Rendered Views

Now that you have learned to completely model every single little detailed item, AND you

have mastered all of Revit’s advanced graphic tools and capabilities…

It’s time to explore what is possible in your presentations. But, please remember, these are

only a few suggestions which I have used. With a little bit of time, effort and desire, you will

develop techniques which you can then share with us next year!

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Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 23 of 38

Graphic Presentation Techniques – Create Interesting & Dynamic Views

As in all Camera (perspective) Views, the quality of the image depends on the design;

however, how you choose to show that image can dramatically help, or hurt you. Try to

show your design in ways which not only communicate the design, but maybe highlights a

strong point of the design, or emphasizes a particular element of the design by forcing the

perspective and creating a bit of tension in the drawing.

Another way to help make your images more interesting is to bring the viewer into the

picture. By bringing the eye level down to the human scale, and viewing the design the

way you would from a pedestrian’s point of view, you invite your client to see the design

from a more interactive approach. Put yourself in the picture.

Page 24: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 24 of 38

Overlay Plans – Mixing Imported Autocad Drawings and Revit Plan Views

Revit allows you to place views on top of each other on a sheet. This technique works very

well when you are trying to meet a deadline, and don’t have time to convert you

Consultant’s drawings from Autocad to Revit.

In the example below, the Landscape Architect had sent us his Preliminary Drawings, which

included a Plant Schedule (Legend) and Typical Notes. We were required to prepare a

submittal which showed the Client a typical segment of proposed landscaping in order to

demonstrate how we were planning on meeting the City’s Street Landscape Border

requirements.

We simply placed his Legend and Notes on a sheet, partially exploded it in order to delete

all of the unwanted items (his Plan and plant symbols mostly) and then placed a Plan

Callout View next to the Legend which has our plants and trees. Then, we copied our trees

and plants onto his Legend in the original boxes and Voila!

Page 25: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 25 of 38

Overlay Plans – Placing Duplicated Plan Views Next to Each Other, with

Different Cut Planes

Revit allows you to duplicate any view and then modify each view as necessary. In this

example, we needed to show what was happening with the glass guard railings below the

planter shelf cap. After we duplicated the view, we modified the cut plains so as to show

both above and below the planter shelf cap. You can then place both views on the sheet,

side by side as is shown in this example, or they can be placed on top of each other if that

is what you need. In both cases, you then turn one of the view titles off and simply activate

one view so as to add all of your notes and dimensions. In the example below, the grid

lines have been extended so as to cross the other view, as well as the section call out cuts

and dimension extension guide lines so that the two views are tied together visually as well

as content and information wise.

Page 26: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 26 of 38

Multiple Overlay Elevations – Placing Elevation Views Next to Each Other, over

a Gradient Background Design

Revit allows you to duplicate any view and then modify each view as necessary. In these

examples, we simply placed all four Elevations on the sheet. But first, we duplicated the 3D

View in order to create a new elevation view by orienting the 3D view to Front (or any other

side view direction). Once that was done, we turned on the Gradient Background in the

Graphic Display Options dialog box, which is now also available in all Elevation & Section

Views. Then, we selected the gradient sky colors and turned the Crop View on. We then

adjusted the crop view controls so that the building elevation was not within the crop region

and then placed the background sky only view onto the sheet, then placed the elevations

on top with the sky behind. Once placed on the sheet, we simply activate the gradient

sky’s view and adjust the crop region in order to create the desired presentation effect.

The three below are examples of this technique…which are all 100% Revit presentations!

Page 27: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 27 of 38

Page 28: Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk Revit Drawings and Presentations Look Great!aucache.autodesk.com/au2012/sessionsFiles/1416/2085... · Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk®

Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 28 of 38

Presentations Utilizing Multiple Techniques - Overlay 3 Views with Varied

Transparencies

Revit allows you to duplicate any view (In this case, an isometric view oriented with the view

cube upper right corner to insure accurate alignment.) Then modify each view’s

transparency as shown to imply “movement”. In this example, we were trying to explain

how the new roof and facial elements were simply “dropped” onto the existing roof trusses

which could not be cut nor modified.

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Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 29 of 38

Plants & Trees – Different Types for Different Views, all Controlled by Visibility

Settings

When Revit switched to the Mental Ray as our rendering engine, we lost our old dead twig

looking type tree and plant place holders and gained the now, ever popular, folded paper

cut out type RPC place holders. These new RPC place holders do not really lend

themselves to non-rendered presentations. So, in an effort to make non-rendered

presentations have nicer looking trees and plants, we had to think a bit outside of the box.

This technique utilizes Revit’s graphic controls and overrides to select which tree or plant to

show in a particular view. In the example below, this view would be used mostly to

generate a rendering and uses only the RPC content (place holders) and not really

intended to be a finished presentation view. You will note, that in the Family Element

Visibility Settings (dialog box), these RPC placeholders are only visible in Course or Medium

detail levels are not visible in Fine detail levels.

In the next example below, this view would be used mostly to generate a finished non-

rendered presentation view and the trees and plants are not intended to be rendered.

These particular trees are actually the dead twig place holders which were used in the old

Acurender days of Revit, pre Mental Ray, and a homemade tree. You will note, that in the

Family Element Visibility Settings (dialog box), these trees are only visible in Fine detail levels

and are not visible in Course or Medium detail levels.

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Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 30 of 38

Below are examples of non-rendered type trees being used in Site Plan and Elevation views.

Hidden Line Shaded and Realistic Views, all work well with non-rendered type trees.

(Images above have trees set to Half Tone and Ghost)

In the Elevation above, the non-rendered trees have been turned to Half Tone when they

are behind an object or another tree to help add depth to the drawing. (Even shown half

tone, certain trees and plants cast shadows.)

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Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 31 of 38

Section 4

Presentation Techniques

Rendered Views

Now that you have learned to completely model every single little detail item AND, you

have mastered all of Revit’s advanced graphic tools and capabilities……

It is time to explore what is possible in your presentations.

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Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 32 of 38

Rendering Techniques – Interiors

As with all Camera (perspective) Views, choosing your view and setting up you image is key;

however, defining your materials, adjusting your sun settings and playing with the post render exposer

settings is where the “Art of Rendering” begins.

In the example above, the sun settings were adjusted so that the counter top was partially lit in order to

create more visual interest and show it’s curved form. Further adjustments included material settings

for the floor, screen wall panels, glass panels and wall finishes. We placed up lights in the planters to

help illuminate the plants and screen walls and placed a decal for the Statue of Liberty. In addition, the

exterior sky was modified so it did not distract you away from the interior.

Once the rendering was done, quite a bit of time was spend adjusting the exposer settings in order to

create the warm afternoon late sun effect. By modifying each individual exposer setting, including the

white point and saturation settings, you can radically affect the final rendering’s feel.

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Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 33 of 38

Rendering Techniques – Sun Settings

Minor changes in the sun settings can produce very different results!

These two images demonstrate how the sun’s position

can affect materials, glass transparency and

reflectance as well as the total feel of the image. In

this example, all settings are identical. Only the sun

settings were modified to create these two, very

different results.

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Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 34 of 38

Rendering Techniques – General

Once you have taken the time to create your design, model everything, choose and adjust all of your

materials and set up your planting and lighting. Why not leverage all of this work in order to maximize

your payoff?

In these examples, all of the model objects and materials are set. Only the rendering’s sun, shadow &

lighting and post render exposer control settings have been adjusted to create all three images, very

quickly.

Daytime

Sunset

Night Time

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Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 35 of 38

Rendering Techniques – Photographic Underlays

Photo Images can be used as backgrounds in renderings; however, not in the conventional manner.

The rendering process does not change, but exporting the image does. Instead of exporting to the

normal .jpg or .bmp file type image, you need to export the rendering as a .png or .tiff file. This way, the

image is saved out with an alpha channel sky, meaning that the sky is not there and it allows for any

image to be placed beneath the rendering, thus allowing you to see the photo underneath where ever

you originally had sky showing.

This is an example of the process:

Place a background photo in a “Detail View” and then import your alpha channel rendering.

Drag the rendering over the background photo. You will have to adjust the size of each to align the

views.

Final overlay rendering. Crop and export view as a .jpg image.

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Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 36 of 38

Rendering Techniques – Rendered Elevations & Plan Views

Orient any 3D Isometric View to an elevation or plan view and render as usual. Very fast and simple!

Day Time Rendered Elevation

Night Time Rendered Elevation

Rendered Floor Plan

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Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 37 of 38

Rendering Techniques – Rendered Elevations (Solid Backgrounds – Negative)

Orient any Elevation or Section View to Front, Side, Back or an compass orientation (N,S,E &W) and

then Render as normal, except change the background from sky to a color. In this case, select black

to create a negative effect.

Once rendered, place an aligned duplicate view on top, without a View Title and only the Annotations

category visible with all levels, dimensions and text notes set to a white or other light color.

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Tips and Tricks to Make Your Autodesk® Revit® Drawings and Presentations Look Great!

Steven C. Shell, Architect www.scshell.com

Page 38 of 38

Thank you very much attending my session.

I hope that you have learned some new techniques to help develop and

expand your personal artistic style and make your drawings and presentations

as powerful and beautiful as they are smart and accurate.

Hopefully, this handout will help you all year long!

Thank you and good luck!

Steven C. Shell, Architect

Tucson, Arizona

www.scshell.com